It can be difficult to keep your plumbing system in proper shape much of the time, since most of the system is hidden from view. Most of the issues that can afflict a plumbing system are quite subtle, as well, making it even more difficult to be able to tell when your system is in need of repairs. If you know what to look for, though, you can identify signs that it’s time for a professional inspection. Have a look at some of the more common signs that you need to schedule pipe inspection services.

Dropping Water Pressure

One of the more common signs that something is wrong with your plumbing system. Dropping water pressure could indicate that you have a leak or blockage in your plumbing. You’ll need to have a professional plumber examine the system to find out for certain. Dropping water pressure throughout the entire house should be especially troubling, as it indicates a problem with the water line.

Unusually High Monthly Water Bills

You should always be keeping an eye on your monthly water bills, just in case they start to rise unexpectedly. If your monthly water bills are higher than they should be, it might mean that you have water still leaving the system. You can confirm this by turning off all plumbing appliances in the house, and then having a look at your water meter. If the meter is still running, you probably have a leak in the system. Pipe inspection is the only way to determine exactly where the leak is located.

Obvious Water Damage

If you have something like a pinhole leak in your home’s plumbing system, the first warning sign you’re likely to notice is spreading water damage on your wall, floor, or ceiling. Leaks that small are not large enough to cause any other warning signs. The only way to catch them is either during a pipe inspection appointment, or by seeing the damage the leak can cause. If you see any obvious water damage that appears to be originating from inside your walls, or under your floor, you should definitely call a professional as soon as possible. Waiting will only give the leak more opportunity to cause damage.

It’s Been Longer Than 3 Years

Plumbing systems tend not to develop issues as frequently as HVAC systems, and as such they don’t need maintenance quite as often. If it’s been a few years since you last had your plumbing system inspected, though, it’s a good idea to schedule a pipe inspection appointment just to be safe. As we mentioned above, many issues that can develop with your plumbing system will not show obvious signs. You have a greater chance of catching issues if you have a professional examine your system every few years, just to be safe.

]]>https://magnoliaplumbing.wordpress.com/2017/09/11/signs-you-need-to-schedule-pipe-inspection/feed/0DSC_3179magnoliaplumbingpipe-inspectionIs It Time to Upgrade Your Air Conditioner Before Summer?https://magnoliaplumbing.wordpress.com/2017/04/13/is-it-time-to-upgrade-your-air-conditioner-before-summer/
https://magnoliaplumbing.wordpress.com/2017/04/13/is-it-time-to-upgrade-your-air-conditioner-before-summer/#respondThu, 13 Apr 2017 16:00:02 +0000http://magnoliaplumbing.wordpress.com/?p=312Is It Time to Upgrade Your Air Conditioner Before Summer?

Assuming you take perfect care of your air conditioning system (I.E. regular maintenance and prompt repairs) you can make it last 15-20 years on average. That’s a pretty respectable number, but sooner or later that system is going to need to be replaced. Before summer rolls around, you should have a look at your air conditioner and determine whether or not it’s a good idea to upgrade. If you’re still on the fence over whether or not you should upgrade your air conditioner, have a look at some of the benefits below.

Greater Efficiency

The one great enemy of pretty much every mechanical system is wear and tear. The slow downward spiral of the universe eventually claims air conditioners, just as it claims stars and planets. As an air conditioner gets closer to the end of its natural lifespan, the efficiency of the system begins to decline. The decline of the system efficiency forces it to operate for longer, which leads to higher monthly bills for you. Upgrading your air conditioner will set you up with a system without any wear and tear, which automatically makes it more energy efficient than the system you’re using right now.

Fewer Repairs

The same wear and tear that contributes to the loss of efficiency for your air conditioner also contributes higher repair needs. All air conditioners need repairs every once in a while, but the vast majority of air conditioners only need one repair every couple of years. Older air conditioners are so worn out that many of their parts will fail much more easily than other systems. Oftentimes, they will. As the parts begin to fail in groups, the frequency and cost of repairs for the air conditioner will skyrocket. If you need to repair your air conditioner multiple times a year, especially if it’s a different part that needs repairs each time, you almost certainly need to upgrade the system. Upgrading your air conditioner will reset the clock, so to speak. You’re still going to need to repair the air conditioner every once in a while, but the overall cost of repairs will decline significantly.

Longer Lifespan

Like we said at the beginning of this post, the average lifespan of an air conditioner is going to be around 15-20 years max. Under normal circumstances, the more common time frame is 10-15 years. At some point, no matter what, you are going to need to replace your air conditioner. If it falls within that age range, you might as well replace it now. It’s not just that you should upgrade an old air conditioner just because it’s old, of course. The reason you need to upgrade your air conditioner once it reaches a certain age is that it will develop more and more problems as it gets older. A new air conditioner is much more cost effective than running an air conditioner that’s older than 15 years.

So you’ve had your heat pump for a number of years, and you’re relying on it yet again to get you through a cold winter. The system isn’t as on top of things as it used to be, but it’s still good for another season. At least, that what you hope. What happens, though, if your heat pump suddenly dies on you in the middle of the season? You probably don’t want to be left without a heating system during a cold month, so it’s a good idea to be very vigilant for signs that the system is in need of replacement.

Unexplained Bill Spikes

You probably monitor your utility bills from month to month, just as a precaution. If you don’t, it’s a good habit to get into. Doing this is beneficial for monitoring your heat pump health, as well. As a heat pump wears down, over years of use, it will begin to lose its efficiency over time. As the output of the system declines, it will have to operate for longer periods of time in order to affect the same level of climate control. This longer operation causes the heat pump to wear down faster, which further exacerbates the issue. All of this adds up to higher bills from month to month.

Very Frequent Repairs

Even if you’re incredibly careful with heat pump maintenance every year, you’re going to have some sort of problem with the system at some point. Parts wear down, freak accidents happen, and that’s the way it is. However, there’s a very big difference between needing to repair your heat pump every 3-5 years, and needing to have it repaired every few months. Needing repairs that often tends to mean that the heat pump is so worn down that various parts of it are beginning to fail from normal use. At that point, you have what should be a pretty easy choice: you could replace the entire system one part at a time, spending a lot of money in the process, or you could replace the whole thing at once and save yourself some money in the long run.

The System is Really Old

Obviously, most of the time the problems that lead to heat pump replacement are going to stem from the age of the system, instead of some catastrophic meltdown. Heat pumps typically last around 15 years, give or take 5 years in either direction. Once your heat pump passes a decade of age, it’s a good idea to talk to a professional about when a good time would be to install a new one. That doesn’t mean that you can’t make a heat pump last longer than that, but it does mean that it’s generally going to cost an impractical amount of money to upkeep a system that is 15+ years of age.

]]>https://magnoliaplumbing.wordpress.com/2017/01/31/how-to-tell-if-your-heat-pump-is-in-desperate-need-of-replacement/feed/0heatpump-200x300magnoliaplumbingheat-pump-unitWater Treatment Systems That can Help You This Winterhttps://magnoliaplumbing.wordpress.com/2016/12/27/water-treatment-systems-that-can-help-you-this-winter/
https://magnoliaplumbing.wordpress.com/2016/12/27/water-treatment-systems-that-can-help-you-this-winter/#respondTue, 27 Dec 2016 13:43:10 +0000http://magnoliaplumbing.wordpress.com/?p=305Water Treatment Systems That can Help You This Winter

Water quality issues have been in the media a lot over the last couple of years, which is a good thing. It’s important for people to realize that, despite the widespread use of municipal water treatment centers, the water coming out of their tap might actually not be as clean or as healthy as it should be. If you’re concerned about the quality of the water in your home, there are a number of different water treatment systems that you should consider. Have a look at a couple of the more popular kinds below.

Reverse Osmosis

Reverse osmosis systems use an ultrathin membrane, which sits in the water line so that all water entering the home must pass through it. Water molecules are able to pass through the membrane without problems. However, larger particles like lead, as well as a number of viral and bacterial varieties, will not be able to. These are collected in a waste receptacle in the system, to be disposed of later. A reverse osmosis system is great for preventing harmful materials from making it into your home.

Water Softeners

A water softener is designed to address the problem of hard water, which is water with a high amount of magnesium and calcium particles. These particles form lime scale in the plumbing pipes over time, restricting the flow of water and requiring professional repairs to fix. A water softener replaces the magnesium and calcium particles in the water with sodium, which is harmless. This softens the water, and protects the plumbing pipes.

Magnolia Plumbing, Heating & Cooling offers water treatment system installation services of all kinds in Baltimore, MD. If you need water treatment services, call today to speak to one of our experts. We’ll make sure that your water is safe to use this winter.

Garbage disposals tend to be put under more stress than usual, which means that the likelihood of problems occurring will increase. If you want to keep your disposal in good condition throughout the winter months, there are a couple of steps you should follow. Read on to find out more about those steps.

Maintenance

As with most systems, the very best thing you could do for your garbage disposal is to schedule preventive maintenance for it. Preventive maintenance allows your technician to find and fix issues with the garbage disposal system before they have the chance to grow out of control and cause more damage. Annual preventive maintenance can save you quite a bit of money on repair costs, in the long run. It can even extend the life of your disposal by several years.

Avoid Certain Waste Material

Certain kinds of waste are actually harmful to the garbage disposal, like fats, oils, and grease. These three materials, known as FOG, can congeal and clog up the disposal once they are poured into it. Bones, ice, and other hard materials can break the impeller in the disposal, rendering it useless. It’s best to avoid putting these kinds of things into the disposal, and to throw them away instead.

Repairs

If you do happen to notice that something is wrong with your garbage disposal system, don’t wait to have it addressed. Call for repairs as soon as you suspect that something is wrong with the system. The faster we can get to it and repair it, the better off it will be.

Magnolia Plumbing, Heating & Cooling offers comprehensive garbage disposal services throughout Baltimore, MD. If you need help with your garbage disposal this winter, call today to schedule an appointment with one of our expert technicians.

Frozen pipes are one of the most frustrating and damaging problems that can afflict your plumbing system in winter. They happen when water inside the pipes freezes and expands, preventing the pipe from functioning. Depending on the amount of water in the pipe when it freezes, it can even rupture due to the expansion of the ice. Fortunately, there are a couple of things that you can do to protect your home’s pipes from freezing over.

Open External Faucets

How exposed a plumbing pipe is to the sub-freezing temperatures outside will determine exactly how likely it is to freeze over. If you have pipes for outside hoses, sprinklers, or anything similar, turn off all the water to them and open the faucets. This will allow any leftover water in the pipes to drain out, so that it can’t freeze and damage the system. Be sure to leave the faucets open throughout the winter, so that they can “breathe” properly.

Insulate Exposed Piping

As mentioned above, more exposure to sub-freezing temperatures will directly affect how likely your pipes are to freeze. Plumbing pipes running under the floor in the middle of your insulated, heated home are unlikely to freeze over, no matter how cold it is outside. If you have uninsulated pipes in the basement, though, you might want to make sure that they are properly insulated before the weather gets too cold. You can buy specific pipe insulators, or just wrap some spare towels around the pipes in order to protect them. If you’re not sure you can adequately insulate your most vulnerable pipes, for whatever reason, call a professional to do it for you.

]]>https://magnoliaplumbing.wordpress.com/2016/11/28/2-ways-to-prevent-frozen-pipes-this-winter/feed/0frozen-pipesmagnoliaplumbingGet Your Duct Sealed This Winterhttps://magnoliaplumbing.wordpress.com/2016/11/21/get-your-duct-sealed-this-winter/
https://magnoliaplumbing.wordpress.com/2016/11/21/get-your-duct-sealed-this-winter/#respondMon, 21 Nov 2016 16:25:13 +0000http://magnoliaplumbing.wordpress.com/?p=296Right around this time of year, everyone starts to make preparations to keep their homes warm over the next few months. That’s a good idea, to be sure, but it’s not the only thing that you need to be worried about. A heater needs the cooperation of a number of other parts in order to properly heat your home. In many cases, the ducts are a part of that equation. Duct sealing is one of the best ways to make sure your heating system is ready for the coming cold.

Duct Leaks

Let’s get into the reason duct sealing is necessary in the first place. Ducts are very, very prone to leaks. Whether from minor issues during installation, or years of normal use, or even animal activity, the average home’s ducts tend to have at least a few leaks in them. Each individual leak may be small, but they have a pretty large cumulative effect. The US Department of Energy has estimated that the average forced air climate control system loses as much as 30% of its total output to leaks in the ducts. That’s almost a third of the total output that you’re paying for going to waste before it reaches its destination. This is why duct sealing is necessary.

Duct Sealing

Mastic, which is a type of caulk, is often used to seal duct leaks. The mastic is squirted into the leak, then sculpted to ensure that the leak is completely sealed. In the case of more extreme leaks, regulation duct tape is often used to reinforce the mastic. This can restore your lost output, and make your heater that much more efficient this winter.

]]>https://magnoliaplumbing.wordpress.com/2016/11/21/get-your-duct-sealed-this-winter/feed/0magnoliasocialimagemagnoliaplumbingWhy You Should Install an Automatic Shutoff Valvehttps://magnoliaplumbing.wordpress.com/2016/11/15/why-you-should-install-an-automatic-shutoff-valve/
https://magnoliaplumbing.wordpress.com/2016/11/15/why-you-should-install-an-automatic-shutoff-valve/#respondTue, 15 Nov 2016 11:06:44 +0000http://magnoliaplumbing.wordpress.com/?p=289Do you happen to know where your water shutoff valve is? It may not seem like that big of a deal to know where it is, or not. However, you will really wish that you did know if a plumbing emergency occurs and you can’t find it. Or, you could do yourself a favor and install an automatic shutoff valve. Read on to find out why that might be a good idea.

The Shutoff Valve

Every home has its own shutoff valve, which sits in the water line somewhere between the home and the city water main (or a well, if that’s the source of your water.) The point of this shutoff valve is to control the flow of all water into the home. If there is a problem, like a pipe bursting and gushing water all over the floor, the idea is that you can shut the valve and prevent further water damage while waiting for repairs. Now, this is a pretty great idea, but it does have a few flaws:

The location of the shutoff valve is not standardized, which means it could be in any one of a half-dozen different places in each home. If you don’t already know where it is, you really don’t want to run around looking for it in case of an emergency.

The shutoff valve is manual, under normal circumstances. That means that if you aren’t there to activate it when something goes wrong, it might as well not be there.

This is why you need an automatic shutoff valve, which will monitor the amount of pressure in your water line in case of leaks. If and when a large leak occurs, the valve will shut down the flow of water until it can be repaired.

]]>https://magnoliaplumbing.wordpress.com/2016/11/15/why-you-should-install-an-automatic-shutoff-valve/feed/0imagesmagnoliaplumbingHow Ignoring a Leaky Faucet can Cost Youhttps://magnoliaplumbing.wordpress.com/2016/11/10/how-ignoring-a-leaky-faucet-can-cost-you/
https://magnoliaplumbing.wordpress.com/2016/11/10/how-ignoring-a-leaky-faucet-can-cost-you/#respondThu, 10 Nov 2016 13:27:20 +0000http://magnoliaplumbing.wordpress.com/?p=282We’ve all had it happen: that one tiny leak in the bathroom or kitchen faucet that keeps dripping, day and night. It may seem like just a minor annoyance, but trust us when we say that it has the potential to cause some major headaches. If you don’t have the faucet professionally fixed, you’re going to end up paying quite a bit more than you would think. Read on to find out how ignoring a leaky faucet can cost you.

Water Math

Whether dripping fast or slow, a leaky faucet is obviously wasting water. Any water waste is something to be avoided as much as possible. What you may not realize, however, is just how much water is being wasted by ignoring something so small. Assuming it’s a very small, slow leak, a leaky faucet can still cost you around $20 a year. Not too big of a deal, right? Well, it’s still 20 bucks that you don’t have anymore that you would have otherwise. But, that’s not the worst of it. Assuming that it’s a faster leak, around one drop per second, you could be paying up to $200 a year extra. Leaks that drip that fast waste up to 3000 gallons of water per year. That’s roughly 200 showers worth of water.

Professional Leak Repair

Now, some homeowners may think that they can solve the problem without relying on a professional plumber. Without the right training and equipment, however, most of them simply end up making the problem worse. If you want to have the leak taken care of without creating more problems for yourself, you’re going to need to call in a professional plumber.

Magnolia Plumbing, Heating & Cooling offers plumbing repair services in Rockville, MD. If you need a leaky faucet repaired, call today and we’ll take care of it for you.

]]>https://magnoliaplumbing.wordpress.com/2016/11/10/how-ignoring-a-leaky-faucet-can-cost-you/feed/0bus-ad-plumbingmagnoliaplumbingThe Benefits of Video Pipeline Inspectionhttps://magnoliaplumbing.wordpress.com/2016/11/01/the-benefits-of-video-pipeline-inspection/
https://magnoliaplumbing.wordpress.com/2016/11/01/the-benefits-of-video-pipeline-inspection/#respondTue, 01 Nov 2016 10:28:37 +0000http://magnoliaplumbing.wordpress.com/?p=279One of the unique things about plumbing systems is that they are, for the most part, hidden from view. This makes it rather difficult, at times, to find and fix problems with the plumbing system. Prior to the advent of more modern methods, the only thing to do was either to wait for a very obvious sign that a part of the system was malfunctioning, or to tear up parts of the walls and floor to examine the pipes. Fortunately, that’s no longer the case. Let’s take a look at the benefits of video pipe inspection.

Pipe Inspection

Video pipe inspection is a tool for diagnosing problems in both your plumbing and sewer systems. It involves lowering a long cord into your pipes, with a small camera attached to the end of it. The camera travels through the pipes on a set of motorized wheels, transmitting images back to the plumber controlling it. This allows the plumber to find issues in the plumbing system without having to exhume the pipes to examine them.

Advantages of Pipe Inspection

Most of the issues that occur in a plumbing or sewer system aren’t going to give off any kind of obvious sign right away. Most of the time, homeowners only realize that they have a problem in their plumbing system if a pipe ruptures or they find an area that has obviously been extensively damaged by leaks. Annual video pipe inspection allows your plumber to find problems that you may not have even known you had up to that point. This kind of early detection can save you hundreds, or even thousands of dollars in repair costs over the years.